Improved cognition in Alzheimer's disease with short-term D-cycloserine treatment.

Abstract

Glutamatergic neurotransmission is important for memory and cognition and is severely affected in Alzheimer's disease. D-Cycloserine exhibits partial agonist activity at the glycine site of N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype glutamate receptor, facilitating activation of the receptor and improving cognition and memory. Seventeen patients with Alzheimer's disease received a three-phase, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 50 mg and 100 mg/day of D-cycloserine. D-Cycloserine was associated with significant improvement in scores on the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (improvement of 3.0 points) when given at a dose of 100 mg/day. D-Cycloserine has cognitive benefits for patients with Alzheimer's disease.